MEREDITH M. POWERS

Longtime member of the East Ridge Community since 1969, Meredith M. Powers passed away on Sunday, December 30, 2012, at home surrounded by her family and many loving friends. She was 69 years old.

Meredith was born to Bill Murray and Mildred Rechtin Murray on January 25, 1943, in St. Louis, Missouri. She arrived at East Ridge in Hankins, New York, after two attempts at suicide, and found a recovery from suicidal depression. East Ridge is a spiritual community and addiction recovery center for people with all kinds of addictions. Meredith married East Ridge founder, Thomas E. Powers (1911-2005) in 1971 and spent the next 42 years carrying the message of hope and recovery and helping thousands of hopelessly addicted people and people with terminal illness find sanity, peace and joy.

Meredith was an accomplished musician, writer, teacher, artist, midwife and caregiver, and her love for life and her fellow human beings touched everyone who knew her. Diagnosed with cancer in 2003, she fought the illness for nine years. Her love for life, and her tenacious spirit kept her a vital part of all aspects of the life at East Ridge.

Meredith is survived by three daughters: Clare Powers, Joan Stein, and Rachel Dingle; two brothers, John Murray and Bruce Murray, and eleven grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on Monday, December 31, at the East Ridge Chapel. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, January 1, at 11 a.m. at the East Ridge Chapel on Ridge Road in Hankins, NY. Following the funeral service, burial will be made in the Callicoon Cemetery.